Recommended Reading

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #120 on: May 03, 2008, 02:57:25 PM » by amandamook

No, I haven't read it but I want to. It looks great. Have you read it?

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #121 on: May 03, 2008, 03:54:53 PM » by crystal

Quote from: amandamook on May 03, 2008, 02:57:25 PM

No, I haven't read it but I want to. It looks great. Have you read it?

I have read "The Shack." Just finished it this morning. It left me in awe. Still processing. Not certain about all of the "theology." Don't know if my uncertainty is the Holy Spirit or just the fact that this book presents God in a different light.

If anyone has read it, I would like to hear your thoughts.

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #122 on: May 03, 2008, 05:25:06 PM » by Kitty

I've been curious about others' thoughts, too. I read it 2 weeks ago...I didn't like the theology, Crystal...it sure did present God in a different light. I thought the comparison to "a Pilgrim's Progress for our times" was vastly overrated. [Was it an Oprah recommendation? Huh

...seemed New Agey to me]. Undecided

I didn't like the whole plot...sorry I can't recommend it...maybe it was b/c I was PG, and what happened to the daughter was particularly disturbing.

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #123 on: May 03, 2008, 06:15:36 PM » by bizymum

"The Shack" was recently recommended to me by a friend. And sure enough, she called it a modern day Pilgrims Progress. That was the first I had heard of it. Thanks for the warning....

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #124 on: May 04, 2008, 07:59:09 AM » by Roehrmomma

A blog that one lady wrote on it.

http://clarkchatter.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-quit.html

Emily

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #125 on: May 18, 2008, 05:28:20 PM » by Kitty

Our neighbor just loaned us Volume 1 of "Journeys through Bookland" (Charles Sylvester). Written in 1909, it's a compilation of classic poems, nursery rhymes & stories. We love it already!

I *think* b/c it's so old, that it's available online as a free e-book...I'm seeing links that look like that...

Anyone else read these?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntie/318355897/

« Last Edit: May 18, 2008, 08:08:26 PM by Yooper »
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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #126 on: May 18, 2008, 06:28:11 PM » by ArmyWife

I just finished reading Villette, by Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre has been one of my favorites for a long time, but I think I may have liked this book of hers even more than Jane Eyre, and I'd never even heard of it till I saw it at the thrift shop the other day. I also picked up Uncle Tom's Cabin, which my dad read to my 11th gr. class (there were only 3 of us, small mk school). That was a very good book, makes you cry sometimes and laugh at other places. For current authors, I think Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorites.

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #127 on: June 01, 2008, 08:18:13 PM » by Kitty

I just re-read Liz Curtis Higgs' trilogy...Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose, and Whence Came a Prince...sigh...my favorite fiction books, I think!

Here's a neat list of children's books and reviews:
http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/books_Kids_products.php

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #128 on: June 02, 2008, 09:18:51 AM » by Kati*did

Quote from: ArmyWife on May 18, 2008, 06:28:11 PM

I just finished reading Villette, by Charlotte Bronte.

I LOVE Villette! I also love The Professor by Charlotte Bronte (I think this is my favorite of hers). Shirley was very good too -- a much longer read.

Anne Bronte also wrote 2 really good books: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Agnes Grey.

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #129 on: June 27, 2008, 08:47:58 AM » by Kitty

"The Lady of Milkweed Manor" by Julie Klassen, is fascinating book, set in Regency England w/ an interesting history of wet nursing included (and replete w/ references to milkweed and its uses).

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #130 on: June 27, 2008, 11:05:31 AM » by Gigi

For the kiddos:

We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen/Helen Oxenbury: Great book for littles! One of our very favorites.

Also love anything by Joseph Altsheler (download for free at gutenburg.org) for youths. Wonderful "frontiersman" type adventure stories set in an accurate historical scene with super duper boy heros who can do-anything-in-the-woods-better-than-any-Indian type stuff. Lots of good shooting and tomahawking the bad guys that's good for boys and tomboys. Has a bit of the "Great Spirit" is the same as "God" stuff in it.

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #131 on: July 09, 2008, 08:21:42 AM » by Gigi

The Father Brown mysteries by G. K. Chesterton. Fabulous writing and amazing creativity. Each mystery is a quick read - like 45 minutes.

These mysteries are usually gory and violent, so this would be for adults, IMO.

There are also other mysteries written by Chesterton that do not star "Father Brown." The Man Who Was Thursday, The Man Who Knew Too Much and others.

« Last Edit: July 09, 2008, 08:35:03 AM by Gigi »
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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #132 on: July 09, 2008, 11:39:23 AM » by Kati*did

I love G.K. Chesterton! He is very witty in his wisdom. I haven't read the Father Brown books, yet. .

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"...plain Kate, and bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst..."

Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #133 on: July 13, 2008, 08:24:24 PM » by Kitty

Have any of you read, Grandmother Bryant's Pocket (award-winning for children) by Jacqueline Briggs Martin? I LOVE it...I read it w/ my dd a couple years ago, and am ordering a copy for her birthday. Here's a synopsis--definitely a WTM kind of book Wink

:

http://www.jacquelinebriggsmartin.com/grandmot.html (neat web site)

Quote

Grandmother Bryant's Pocket is a story about Sarah Bryant, an eight-year-old girl who lived two hundred years ago on a farm in Maine. When the barn burns down and Sarah's dog Patches is caught in the fire she begins to have bad dreams. Nothing her parents do helps Sarah get over these nightmares. So she goes to live with her Grandmother and Grandfather Bryant. Grandmother Bryant is a healer [w/ herbs] and Grandfather Bryant a whittler.

Two hundred years ago pockets were not sewn into women's clothes but were tied around the waist under a skirt, a bit like our own "fanny packs" would be if we wore them under our clothes. Grandmother Bryant's old pocket with its stitches and smells, Grandfather Bryant's stories, and a one-eyed cat eventually help Sarah get over her nightmares and even face the biting, pinching geese which had terrified her.

Curriculum Connections to Try

My sister, Audrey Briggs, is a first grade teacher at the Plummer-Motz Elementary School in Falmouth, Maine. She and her students correlated a pocket project with a reading of Grandmother Bryant's Pocket. Read about it on the Pocket page.

Students at the George E. Jack School in Standish, Maine did a number of projects, with the help of their art teacher related to Grandmother Bryant's Pocket. They made apple head dolls, pockets, Gentlemen's leather pouches, and collected recipes using herbs and craft projects that relate to colonial times. Read about their projects on the Standish page on this website.

For more connections read below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Healing Herbs/Plants --

Two hundred years ago healers could not go to the drug store for medicines but depended on various plants to help people recover from burns, cuts, or other sickness. Some of the plants they used are plants we can find growing in our own yard.

A good example is the dandelion. You might see dandelions in your yard or neighborhood. Their seeds were brought to this country by some of the first immigrants so they could have fresh greens in the spring. (Some people still use dandelion greens as a salad green. They must be picked before they blossom -- be careful not to pick if they have been sprayed with a herbicide -- washed and served fresh.)

Dandelions have spread all over the United States. Some people think their leaves and flowers are quite beautiful. The leaves of the dandelion can be dried and used as part of a picture collage.

Wild mint was used in tea, and bathwater. You can often tell a mint plant by its smell. All members of the mint family have square stems. You can dry mint as Sarah and her grandmother did. (Before you pick any plant have an adult help you identify it.)

Other important healing plants can be found in our kitchens.
Onions were a favorite cure for chest colds. They were chopped up, fried, and wrapped in a cloth that was then placed on the chest. We now know that onions are a very healthy food. So perhaps the "chopped onion cure" was a good one.

Try some of the activities that children in Sarah's time liked to do:
...In the summer girls picked hollyhock blossoms and turned them upside down to be ball gowns for dolls.

They made doll furniture from sticks, milkweed pods and other things they found.

And,

Quote

The pocket contains herbs, like knitbone and pennyroyal, a couple of gold buttons, bandages and scissors. Sarah is allowed to wear it as part of her cure and, of course, she loses it...

The folk-art illustrations by Petra Mathers are as good as Ms. Martin's text, neither too trite nor too simple. A small drawing of a baby, its mother holding in one hand the rag tied round its toothachy head, in the other a fish to pay Grandmother Bryant, is heartbreaking.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B03E6DF103FF934A15757C0A961958260

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #134 on: October 19, 2008, 08:58:57 PM » by thus_I_fight

We just checked out Jim LaMarche's The Raft from the library. We like this book a lot. I'd guess it would be right for kids about 5-7.

It's about a boy whose father has to work all summer, and won't be able to care for him. So the boy goes to spend the summer with his grandmother, who is so weird she doesn't even own a television. She's a self-titled "River Rat," and the boy spends many hours on the river, watching the animals, and practicing drawing them.

We also love Library Lion, by Michelle Knudsen. This is not for those who avoid fantasy. Wink

A lion walks into a library one day, much to the alarm of everyone except the rule-abiding librarian. As far as she is concerned, as long as the lion doesn't break any rules, he can stay. He helps out in many ways, and everyone loves him. When an emergency happens, we learn that there are times and places to break the rules, even in a library. This is probably for kids 3-7, but my almost-two-year-old loves it. I just condense it a bit for her.

One of my 5-year-old's favorite books is The Three Boys and the Remarkable Cow, by Nan Hayden Agle and Ellen Wilson. My mother handed this down to us, and it's a major favorite. It's a chapter book, with some black and white illustrations. My daughter has a better-than-average attention span for such books, so she's sat in rapt attention since she was 4. But I'd guess it to be about right for ages 5-7. There's nothing objectionable in it, except repeated use of the words "pride" and "proud," which some parents may not like.

Triplet boys live with their grandmother. When the county fair comes to their town, the boys try to think of any way they can raise enough money to buy an animal to enter in the fair. No laziness in these three! They work hard, eat constantly, as growing boys apparently must, and have an exciting and unexpected experience in the competition.

For older children, I loved Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. Really super book. I also adore Heidi, by Johanna Spyri.

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"I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills." Habakkuk 3:19

Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #135 on: October 20, 2008, 06:58:20 AM » by Kitty

Quote from: thus_I_fight on October 19, 2008, 08:58:57 PM

We just checked out Jim LaMarche's The Raft from the library. We like this book a lot. I'd guess it would be right for kids about 5-7...

One of my 5-year-old's favorite books is The Three Boys and the Remarkable Cow, by Nan Hayden Agle and Ellen Wilson...

For older children, I loved Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott...

We really like The Raft, too. Grin

Thanks for the other suggestions!

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #136 on: October 20, 2008, 04:00:28 PM » by cjanderin

Quote from: thus_I_fight on October 19, 2008, 08:58:57 PM

For older children, I loved Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott. Really super book. I also adore Heidi, by Johanna Spyri.

Did you know that there is a second book in the 'Rose' stories? First is Eight Cousins and then Rose in Bloom. They are both wonderful books. Excellent reading for girls 10+. Another book by Louisa May Alcott (other than all the Little Women books - also great!!) is An Old Fashioned Girl. Highly recommend it as a great book for girls 10+.

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #137 on: October 21, 2008, 10:32:19 AM » by Leah IL

I got a book from the library for my daughter and ended up reading it myself- it was so great! It's called Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. It was published in 1916. It is the story of a young girl raised by two nervous old ladies in the city who, due to circumstances, goes to live on a farm in Vermont with her cousins. It is just wonderful! Here is the amazon review which is worth reading:

http://www.amazon.com/Understood-Betsy-Dorothy-Canfield-Fisher/dp/0805060731

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Leah
Married to Ken 14 years, mom to Kenny (13), Kyle and Kaitlyn (11), Kevin (5) and Megan and Melissa (1 1/2)

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #138 on: October 21, 2008, 01:03:31 PM » by thus_I_fight

Yes! I saw that book recommended somewhere on this site, and read it. It's great! I'll definitely have my daughter read it in a year or so.

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"I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills." Habakkuk 3:19

Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #139 on: October 21, 2008, 02:35:06 PM » by stebs7

I am ordering Understood Betsy on your recommendations - I love a good read.

Has anyone read The Hawk and the Dove Trilogy by Penelope Wilcock?

That is the most incredible book. We had some Mennonite young lady friends visiting us at Christmas last year. They were reading that and when they went to bed, I started reading it and read 2/3 of the way before they left - so I had to order it to finish it! Wound up accidentally ordering 2 of them (forgot that I had ordered it and ordered it again). Well, my mom who is not a Christian read it while she was visiting me (normally won't read anything Christian) and she even loved it and said she wanted to get her own copy because that is the type of book she would want to read again. Well, I was able to give her a present right away

I lent it out to a friend and just got it back - so I am going to reread it - this time slowly and chew on it - incredible message - teaching.

Blessings, Nancy in Poland

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #140 on: October 21, 2008, 02:49:34 PM » by wyomama3

I am currently reading books by Joel Rosenberg- a quote from Wikepedia follows. The books are fast paced, world politics based on biblical events, but set in current day. Kind of like reading into the future.
The Last Jihad, The End Times, The Copper Scroll, The Ezekiel Option, Dead Heat, and The Epicenter-this one in Non Fiction
"Joel C. Rosenberg is a New York Times best-selling list American author and a communications strategist. Rosenberg refers to himself as an "evangelical Christian from an Orthodox Jewish heritage."[1] He has worked with some notable figures in business, politics, and media, including Steve Forbes, Rush Limbaugh, and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has written five novels about terrorism, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner The Ezekiel Option,[2] along with his first nonfiction book, Epicenter, on the alleged resemblance of biblical prophecies and current events. Rosenberg serves as a political columnist for World and he has also had his work published by the Wall Street Journal, National Review, and Policy Review. He and his wife, Lynn, have four sons and reside near Washington, D.C."
*Modified to mention that these books have violence. One can't write about the middle east realisticly w/ out people dying. Undecided

« Last Edit: October 21, 2008, 02:52:13 PM by wyomama3 »
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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #141 on: October 21, 2008, 04:40:49 PM » by thus_I_fight

Wait! If you haven't already ordered Understood Betsy, it's available for free online on www.gutenberg.org. You can format it on Microsoft Word and print it. It doesn't look as nice that way, but it's probably much cheaper. Also, it may be available in your library.

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"I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills." Habakkuk 3:19

Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #142 on: October 21, 2008, 05:21:36 PM » by Leah IL

Quote from: stebs7 on October 21, 2008, 02:35:06 PM

I am ordering Understood Betsy on your recommendations - I love a good read.

You'll love it- I'm reading it to all the kids. And don't tell him I told you, but my 13 year old son is enjoying this book as much as my daughter LOL

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Leah
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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #143 on: June 28, 2009, 07:13:48 PM » by KristenA

The Vision by Debi Pearl

Video book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvdKTxAC5tU&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fuser%2FNGJMinistries&feature=player_profilepage

If you liked Created To Be His Helpmeet, you'll like this one...... except it's a NOVEL

It's a great book and I've heard it will be available this week.

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #144 on: June 29, 2009, 01:22:12 PM » by ndmomof6

Quote from: KristenA on June 28, 2009, 07:13:48 PM

It's a great book and I've heard it will be available this week.

Hubby ok'd me getting it. Can't wait to read it!

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Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3

Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #145 on: June 30, 2009, 08:04:47 PM » by floydian

I was in our local thrift store recently and found a copy of The Anne of Green Gables Treasury. I didn't even know it existed. If you are an Anne fan, and don't have this, it really is a treasure.

We are planning an Anne tea party in a couple of months--all from the book.

This is the cutest book!!! My girls have loved it.

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #146 on: July 20, 2009, 01:12:45 PM » by healthybratt

The Vision by Debi Pearl.

See my sig line for a special discount for July 21, 2009 ONLY

(that's TOMORROW).

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #147 on: July 21, 2009, 03:14:06 AM » by wyomama3

Quote from: healthybratt on July 20, 2009, 01:12:45 PM

The Vision by Debi Pearl.

See my sig line for a special discount for July 21, 2009 ONLY
.

BUMP!

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #148 on: July 21, 2009, 11:38:39 AM » by smileyface

I went to amazon to order the book, but they are out of stock. You can still add it to your cart, but I don't see anything about getting one free. Huh

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Re: Recommended Reading - Fiction
« Reply #149 on: July 21, 2009, 11:43:14 AM » by seekingtruth

Quote from: smileyface on July 21, 2009, 11:38:39 AM

I went to amazon to order the book, but they are out of stock. You can still add it to your cart, but I don't see anything about getting one free. Huh

You just order it from amazon and they will send you one when they get more. You can order it even though it is out of stock. You will get the free ones from NGJ when you send them the receipt from the one you bought on amazon. Amazon doesn't have anything to do with the free books.

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